New signs grace snowmobile trails

Friday

Dec 28, 2012 at 12:01 AM

There are several new signs on area snowmobile trails this season.

By MARK SPENCLEYmark@cheboygantribune.com

There are several new signs on area snowmobile trails this season.Each year the Department of Natural Resources and volunteer organizations devote countless hours to prepping the states massive web of snowmobile trails — from brush removal to sign replacement.“A lot of the prep work gets done over the summer and in early fall,” said Steve DeBrabander, Department of Natural Resources trails specialist. This year, the task was more involved than it usually is. The DNR eliminated many of the signs that used to be posted along the trails and added a host of new ones.The changes were implemented based on recommendations submitted by a DNR citizens’ advisory workgroup, comprised of motorized trail users, trail maintenance organizations, members of the DNR’s Snowmobile Advisory Workgroup and the Michigan Snowmobile Association. Technical support for the workgroup was provided by recreation and law enforcement staff from the DNR and the U.S. Forest Service.“The changes to the motorized trail signage program are the result of a collaborative process with stakeholder groups and should be a real improvement for trail users,” said Ron Olson, chief of the DNR’s Parks and Recreation Division. “The sign reductions will result in less clutter along the trails and provide for more consistency statewide.”The following signs have been eliminated and will be removed from state snowmobile trails: Bridge Ahead, Chevron, Deer Crossing, Drift Area, Narrow Bridge, Narrow Trail, Trail Crossing, Truck Traffic, Two Way Trail, and Winding Trail.New signs added to state snowmobile trails in 2012 include:n Combination Horizontal Alignment/Intersection (left and right): Bright yellow signs with directional arrows give notice of changes in horizontal trail alignment of less than 90 degrees where an intersection occurs within or immediately adjacent to a turnn Private Drives Ahead: Warn trail users where driveways cross a snowmobile trailn One-Direction Large Arrow (left and right): Large yellow, reflective signs (10x12 inches) with a black arrow and border give notice of changes in horizontal trail alignment of 90 degrees or moren Next (number of) Miles: A supplemental sign that may be used below “Private Drives Ahead” sign to indicate how long the stretch of private drives runsn Trail Closed to Wheeled Motor Vehicles Ahead: Used on state or federal land prior to the point where a designated state snowmobile trail enters private property where the use of wheeled motorized vehicles is prohibitedAccording to DeBrabander, signing trails is one of the biggest chores in maintaining quality trails in the offseason. This duty falls on the shoulders of the more than 70 volunteer organizations that take care of trail maintenance across the state.“It’s quite a partnership and it’s a big program,” DeBrabander said of the DNR’s hand-in-hand work with volunteer snowmobile organizations. “Without these volunteers, we couldn’t take care of the trails. We don’t have the personnel.” If snowmobiling weren’t so popular, this whole process would be much easier. “We have over 6,400 miles of signed and groomed trails here in Michigan,” DeBrabander noted. “Snowmobiling is a huge economic engine for this state and I think everyone realizes that.”Michigan riders have the luxury of an expansive signed and groomed designated snowmobile trail system. The trails start in Southeast Michigan and work up the west side of the Lower Peninsula and throughout Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. The system draws thousands of riders from across the country each winter.While snowmobiling provides a great economic boost to Michigan, estimates have the number around $1 billion annually; the equipment to keep these thousands of miles of trails in shape does not come cheap. To offset the cost, the DNRE issues several million dollars in grants that can be used to cover grooming equipment and repair., as well as all of the other prep work.

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